EOS RPvs Ricoh GR IIIvs A7 IV
Which should you buy?
Entry Full-Frame Stills Photography — EOS RP (2019): An affordable gateway into the RF system. The RP makes sense as a stepping stone camera — if you're committed to Canon RF glass, this is the cheapest full-frame body to buy those lenses for. Just manage expectations on video and battery life.
Street Photography & Urban Reportage — Ricoh GR III (2019): The purest street photography compact — APS-C sensor, 28mm perspective, IBIS, and cult-favourite JPEG rendering in a shirt pocket.
Portrait & Wedding Photography — A7 IV (2021): The full-frame portrait benchmark — 33MP, AI Eye AF, and exceptional skin-tone rendering in a pro-grade hybrid body.
Who should buy what
EOS RP (2019)
- Canon users who want to start investing in RF glass affordably
- Stills photographers who shoot primarily in good light
- Anyone coming from a Canon DSLR wanting the RF system at low cost
- Travel photographers who prioritise compactness over video specs
Ricoh GR III (2019)
- You shoot street, travel, or documentary and want APS-C quality in a coat or shirt pocket
- You want a camera you'll genuinely always carry without thinking about it
- You appreciate sharp, characterful images from a fixed 28mm equivalent focal length
A7 IV (2021)
- You want a high-resolution full-frame all-rounder for portraits, weddings, or travel
- You're stepping up from APS-C or a DSLR and want the best all-round full-frame body under £3,000
- You shoot a mix of stills and video and need a single body that handles both seriously
- You want access to the widest lens ecosystem in the mirrorless market
Quick take: The a7 iv has the highest resolution at 33mp; the eos rp is the most affordable; only the a7 iv is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS RP (2019) | Ricoh GR III (2019) | A7 IV (2021) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £799 | £899 | £2,299 |
| Sensor | 26.2MP Full-Frame CMOS | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS | 33MP Full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS |
| Resolution | 26.2MP | 24.2MP | 33.0MP |
| Video | 4K/24p (with 1.7× crop), 1080p/60p | 1080p/60p | 4K/60p oversampled, 10-bit internal, S-Log3, S-Cinetone |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF, 4779 manually selectable positions | Hybrid contrast/phase-detect AF with subject detection | 759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | 4-stop IBIS (Shake Reduction) | 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 5fps mechanical | 4fps | 10fps mechanical, 30fps electronic |
| Battery Life | ~250 shots (CIPA) — very limited | 200 shots (CIPA) | ~580 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 485g (body, battery, card) | 257g | 659g body only |
| Dimensions | 132.5 × 85.0 × 70.0mm | 109.4 × 61.9 × 33.2mm | 131.3 × 96.4 × 79.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification | None | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" fixed touchscreen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen |
| Mount | Canon RF-mount | Fixed 28mm-equiv f/2.8 lens | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II | Single SD UHS-I | Dual slots: CFexpress Type A + SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C (3.2 Gen 2), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
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